ES 1021A

Properties of Materials
Classification of Materials

N.K. Knowles
 Classification of Materials (Ch. 1)
• Materials can be classified into many different categories

• Metals & Alloys

• Polymers (Plastics) & Elastomers

• Ceramics & Glasses

• Hybrids/Composites

• Semiconductors

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Introduction to Material Properties
• Materials are chosen based on the properties they possess

• Elastic deformation:

• A material deforms during an applied load or force but

returns to its original position when the load is removed

• Elastic (Young’s) Modulus (E):

• A measure of the resistance to elastic deformation

𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝜎 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
𝐸= = =
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝜀 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Introduction to Material Properties
• Materials are chosen based on the properties they possess

• Plastic deformation:

• A material deforms during an applied load or force and some

of the shape change becomes permanent
• The material is said to have yielded, this is determined by a
materials Yield Strength (σyield)

• Tensile Strength (σts):

• The maximum stress as the material begins to fail

• Ductility:

• The amount of deformation before the material breaks

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

Ductile Fracture

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

Ductile Fracture

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Classification of Materials
• These are often combined to form engineering materials with the
desired mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic or optical properties

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Classification of Materials
• Materials can be further classified into sub-categories

• These materials have unique attributes (properties)

• Information regarding materials are compiled in engineering

databases

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
 Metals & Alloys
• Include aluminum, magnesium, zinc, iron, titanium, copper, and
nickel

• Alloys are metals that contain additions of other metals or non-metals

• Metals are generally good conductors of heat and electricity

• Metallic bonds share ‘cloud’ of valence electrons

• Metals are usually easily deformed (high ductility)

• High elastic stiffness (high E)

• Can be strengthened (increase σyield) by:

• Alloying
• Strain hardening, cold working, or heat treatment

• Are most often crystalline solids

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
Most Elements are Metals

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
 Polymers
• Produced using a process known as polymerization

• Organic solids made up of long chains of carbon atoms, connected

by covalent C-C bonds and attached side groups

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Polymers - Bonding
• Molecules have strong covalent ‘backbones’

• Usually linked together by weak hydrogen bonds

• Can be strengthened by cross-linking

• Thermoplastics: long
molecular chains, not
rigidly connected

• Thermosets: stronger
but more brittle due to
tightly linked molecular
chains

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Polymers - Properties
• Very low stiffness, E (~50x less than metals)

• Very light (low density)

• Not very strong, but high strength-to-weight ratio

• Very low melting temperatures

• Poor conductors of heat and electricity

• Properties depend on temperature

• Easy to fabricate into complex shapes (i.e. moulding, 3D printing)

• Plastics contain additives that enhance the properties polymers

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Elastomers
• Distinct type of thermoplastic polymer (ex. Rubber)

• Very small number of the long molecules are joined (cross-linked)

• Extremely weak bond between molecules

• Extremely low elastic stiffness, E ~500-5000x less than metals)

• Can be stretched multiple times and to lengths much

greater than their starting length,
and still recover their initial shape

• If cross-links did not exist, the

material would flow as a liquid

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Polymers & Elastomers - Summary
• Thermoplastic polymers (no cross-linking)

• Thermosetting polymers (lots of cross-linking)

• Elastomers (small number of cross-links)

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
 Ceramics
• Non-metallic inorganic solids

• Include: Tungsten Carbide (WC), Silicon Carbide (SiC), Aluminum

Oxide (Al2O3)

• Atoms held together by covalent or ionic bonds in a crystal structure

• Usually compounds of two or more elements

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Ceramics - Properties
• Very low thermal and electrical conductivity

• Very high stiffness, E

• High compressive strength

• Very high yield strengths, but fail before yielding

• Very brittle

• High melting temperature

• High strength when hot

• Difficult to manufacture, therefore expensive

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
 Glasses
• Non-crystalline inorganic solids (non-crystalline ceramics)

• As with ceramics, atoms are held together with covalent or ionic

bonds

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Glasses - Properties
• Amorphous: no regular periodic arrangement of atoms

• Very low thermal and electrical conductivity

• Very brittle

• Often transparent

• Lower strength, stiffness and melting temperature than ceramics due

to non-uniform atomic spacing

• Easier to manufacturer due to lower melting temperature, therefore

less expensive than ceramics

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
 Hybrids (Composites)
• A combination of two or more materials to optimize properties

• Examples:

• Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP, fiberglass)

• Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP)

• Sandwich structures (plywood)

• Natural materials are often hybrids

• Wood (cellulose fibers strong in tension, embedded in a

matrix of lignin strong in compression)

• Bone (hydroxyapatite provides rigidity, and organic polymer

collagen provides fracture resistance)
ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
ES 1021A – Classification of Materials
Functional Classifications

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials

 Next Class
• Atomic Structure (Ch.2)
• The Structure of the Atom (Sec. 2-2)

• Atomic Bonding (Sec. 2-5)

• Binding Energy & Coefficient of

Thermal Expansion (Sec. 2-6)

ES 1021A – Classification of Materials